Interpretive Summary: A build up of soil salinity is a serious problem many irrigated areas around the world. The need to leach salinity out of the root zone must be countered by the need to conserve water. A reasonable scheme for autumn irrigation in the Hetao Irrigation District was proposed for soils with varying salinity based on model simulations. The proposed scheme is intended to mitigate salinity while conserving water. The approach and similar guidelines can be used in other areas where autumn and winter irrigation is practiced.

Technical Abstract:
In accordance with the prevention of soil salination and water-saving irrigation in autumn in Inner Mongolia Hetao irrigation district, the reasonable water-saving irrigation scheme in autumn was quantified by using SHAW model for the different salinized soils. For slightly salinized soils, autumn irrigation quota was from 142 to183 mm between September 28 and October 23. For moderate salinized soils, autumn irrigation quota was from 180 to 200 mm between October 14 and 18. For serious salinized soils, planting sunflower instead of wheat, autumn irrigation quota was from 200 to 225 mm. In the studied irrigation district, autumn irrigation is supposed to be reasonably arranged according to the different salinized soils.